Joan on the Road

On January 23 I told you why we moved to Orange, CA to be near doctors and hospitals to deal with health problems. The results of the OncoType DX test came back indicating I would benefit from chemotherapy. I'm in an intermediate group for risk of recurrence in ten years. To me the advantage of chemo was enough that I opted to do it.

I had my first treatment yesterday and it was no big deal. I'm going to the doctors office for treatments in a very nice small room with 3 lounge chairs and TV. Bring a movie and music and 3 hours later...done. We went out for dinner afterwards. One of four treatments completed.

I've been going to a support group (thanks, Beth, for encouraging that) so I've been learning a lot about side effects and ways to stay feeling good. However, I've also learned that there are so many types of breast cancer that we cannot compare our treatments and results. We can just get a sense of what may happen. My doctor assures me that I'll do well and will feel normal most days....well until I lose my hair.

Next week I'll go shopping for a few head coverings. Seems that for most women this is the biggest trauma. I hope I can handle it well. I used to wear wigs to work back in the 70's just for fun and to cover a bad hair day. Now it seems like a big deal!

So we're here for 5-6 months. I can see the BIG A of Angels' Stadium from our site. I'll probably hear the cheering and fireworks and hope to attend as few games. I'm enjoying the perfume from the blooming citrus trees. We've had some of the grapefruit and oranges which are ripening...pretty darn good:) So more later.